We will perform once at each of three Oxfordshire drama festivals – exact dates to be confirmed. We may be invited to perform again on the Saturday nights of each festival – though this is far from guaranteed! Individual availabilities will be given to the festival organisers to ensure that things are scheduled accordingly.

We are also in discussion with venues for a possible one night Oxford showcase, in late May.

There are two plays: 'Salad Day', detailed on this page, and Hole. The two plays will be auditioned separately, and you are welcome to audition for either play, or both.

The drama festivals are a celebration of amateur theatre making, so in some cases restrict our ability to cast actors with recent professional experience. This does not rule you out, but please make this known to the directors (ideally in advance of auditions) so that this can be discussed with the festivals.

Audition dates

All at St Margaret's Institute, 30 Polstead Road, Oxford, OX2 6TN

Wednesday 6th March, 7.30pm-9pm

Sunday 10th March, 10.30am-12 noon

About Salad Day

Salad Day was written by Irish playwright Deidre Kinahan in 2009 as a rehearsed reading at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. It was later adapted as a full-length play, Halcyon Days, performed at the Edinburgh Festival in 2013.

It is a short piece (30 minutes or so) for two older actors, a man and a woman, and one non-speaking part, gender and age neutral.

As the title suggests, the play has a theme of coming to terms with the aging process, and is a bitter sweet comedy set in a care home. The two characters, a retired man who has been a well-known actor, and a recently arrived woman who was a school teacher, become friends. They try to rediscover themselves through memories and a shared longing to be loved.

Many of us have negative feelings about care homes (the very name can seem an oxymoron) and there have been endless stories in the media about neglect and cruelty to elderly residents.

Director Ruth says: "After experiencing at first hand life in the care homes my elderly relatives have lived in, I am struck by how much of life is lived out in these institutions – sadness and loneliness yes, but comedy and companionship too, even love! It’s time to stop fearing our old age, rather embrace it and make the most of every day."

Roles

Sean – retired male actor and in the early stages of dementia. Playing age 55+.

Jo – carer, non-speaking role, but the character interacts physically with the cast. Any playing age and gender neutral.

Rehearsals

All at St Margaret's Institute, Jericho

Rehearsals once or twice a week from April, with a break for Easter.

The audition process

You will not be required to look at anything in advance – extracts from the script will be available in the room. We will be looking at practical issues like your skills at reading a script as well as interaction with other actors and potential to develop a character.

The sessions will run for 90 minutes including a warm-up workshop and you will be given the opportunity to work on two or three extracts. It will be a relaxed and informal process and hopefully enjoyable too – so please try not to get too anxious.

It would be helpful if you could bring a completed audition form, but forms will also be available on the day.

If you have any specific needs with regards to access or any other issues, please do get in contact with Ruth and we will help if we can.

What if I can’t make those dates and times?

If you are interested in auditioning, but are unable to come to either of the given dates, please contact the directors using the contact details above and we will try to see you at another time, if possible.

OTG's statement of values

The Oxford Theatre Guild (The OTG) is a charity registered in England and Wales and is run wholly by volunteers to promote the advancement of the art of drama. We believe that all The OTG’s members and volunteers have the right to be healthy, happy, safe, valued and respected. The OTG collectively strive for best practice in health and safety and an environment free from bullying, harassment or discrimination.

The OTG’s committee will work pro-actively to prevent or tackle anything that contravenes our values. Any actions, speech or behaviour in breach of these values should be brought to the attention of the committee.